Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Marriage Game

A Novel of Queen Elizabeth 1

Alison Weir

In this compelling novel of Tudor drama and suspense, acclaimed author Alison Weir brings to life one of England’s most scandalous royal love affairs: the romance between the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth I and her courtier Lord Robert Dudley.

Only twenty-five and newly crowned, Elizabeth vows to rule the country as both queen and king. But her counselors continually press her to form an advantageous marriage and produce an heir. Though none of the suitors have yet worked their way to her throne, the dashing—though married—Lord Robert lays claim to Elizabeth’s heart. Their flagrant flirting, their unescorted outings, and the appointment of Lord Robert to Master of Horse inspire whispers through the court, and even rumors that Elizabeth has secretly given birth to Lord Robert’s child.

Events take a dark turn when Robert’s wife is found dead. Universal shock is followed by accusations of murder. Despite the scandal, Elizabeth and Robert manage to navigate the choppy political, economic, and religious waters around them. But the greatest obstacle to marriage between the Queen and her true love may come not from outside forces, but from within.(from Netgalley)

My Thoughts

I am not able to speak to the historical accuracy of this novel, as the only exposure I have had to anything close to this time period is from the TV show The Tudors. It is that show that brought about my interest in British history, especially anything related to the Tudors.

From a fictional aspect, I found The Marriage Game to be very entertaining. I love the intrigue of the royal court - back stabbing, politics, power struggles. This story had it all! I thought Ms. Weir had a wonderful ability to weave a story that held my interest. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read.

My thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books, via Netgalley, for allowing me to reaf this in exchange for an unbiased review.

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